Mobile phone terminal

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an information communication terminal having a configuration in which it is possible to prevent a wrong operation of the information communication terminal due to an unconscious operation of an input equipment during operating an audio output equipment. That is, the information communication terminal includes a controller. The controller operates a detection sensor that detects an object approaching during operating the audio output equipment. And the controller controls a status of being input into the input equipment based on a detected result of the detection sensor.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This present application is a Continuation Application of Ser. No.14/624,736 filed on Feb. 18, 2015, which is a Continuation Applicationof Ser. No. 14/278,870 filed on May 15, 2014, (U.S. Pat. No. 9,467,552issued on Oct. 11, 2016), which is a Continuation Application of Ser.No. 13/530,482 filed on Jun. 22, 2012, (U.S. Pat. No. 8,996,058 issuedon Mar. 31, 2015), which is a Continuation Application of Ser. No.12/738,871 filed on Apr. 20, 2010, (U.S. Pat. No. 8,229,496 issued onJul. 24, 2012), which is a National Stage Entry of InternationalApplication PCT/JP2008/073671 filed on Dec. 18, 2008, which claims thebenefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application 2007-335987, filedon Dec. 27, 2007, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated intheir entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile phone terminal which includesa touch panel.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a touch panel which is called the flat touch panel andthe touch window and is possible to make a mobile telephone thin hasbeen developed. Then, the mobile telephone whose surface the touch panelis mounted on, that is, the mobile telephone with the touch panel isbeginning to become prevalent.

In the mobile telephone with the touch panel, since the touch panel ismounted on the surface of the mobile telephone, a part of body such ascheek and ear of user may touch the touch panel during a telephone callin some cases. In this case, though user does not intend to touch thetouch panel, the mobile telephone carries out the same operation as onewhich is carried out at a time when user touches the touch panelconsciously. For this reason, the following inconvenience is caused.

For example, due to the unconscious touch with the touch panel asmentioned above, the mobile telephone carries out an operation whichuser does not intend to do and consequently, the telephone call isdisturbed. As one of operation modes of the mobile telephone, there isan input standby mode in which the mobile telephone waits for a nexthandling of a handling unit (such as touch panel). The input standbymode continues due to the unconscious touch with the touch panel asmentioned above. For example, a backlight of a liquid crystal displaywhich is installed on the mobile telephone is lit in the input standbymode. In the case that the input standby mode continues during thetelephone call due to the touch of cheek of user or the like with thetouch panel as mentioned above, waste that the backlight of the liquidcrystal display continues to be lit though the liquid crystal display isnot used in the telephone call is caused. As a result, electric power ofbattery of the mobile telephone is consumed wastefully and then,remaining capacity of the battery decreases, and consequently, anavailable time when user can use the mobile telephone decreasessubstantially. Moreover, if the backlight of the liquid crystal displaycontinues to be in a lighting state during the telephone call,temperature of the mobile telephone rises due to heat which is generatedby the backlight. Therefore, warmth which user feels at the near of earmakes user feel uncomfortable.

Patent document 1 proposes the following configuration. That is, thepatent document 1 discloses a configuration in which it is judgedwhether user talks on the mobile telephone while user's ear touches aspeaker, on the basis of degree of focusing of a camera which is mountedon the mobile telephone. Moreover, the patent document 1 proposes aconfiguration in which an input from the touch panel is madeineffective, in the case that it is judged that the mobile telephone isin a telephone call mode according to the above configuration forjudgment.

Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-159028

Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-135369

Patent document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1998-065598

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, according to the proposed configuration disclosed in the patentdocument 1, a problem that it is impossible to handle the camera duringthe telephone call is caused. In other words, there is a problem that afunction which is available during the telephone call is restricted.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mobilephone terminal which can avoid a wrong operation caused by theunconscious touch with the touch panel during the telephone call withoutrestricting the function which is available during the telephone call.

Technical Solution

According to the present invention, a mobile phone terminal includes atouch panel unit for inputting information, a telephone call determiningmeans which judges whether the mobile phone terminal is in a telephonecall mode, an approach detecting means which outputs a wave and detectsreceiving of the wave as approaching of an object, and an inputcontrolling means which carries out a control to make inputtedinformation from the touch panel unit ineffective in the case that thetelephone call determining means judges that the mobile phone terminalis in the telephone call mode.

According to the present invention, a method for avoiding an unnecessaryhandling during the telephone call includes a step in which a wave isoutputted and receiving of the wave is detected as approaching of anobject to a mobile phone terminal and a step in which an informationinputted from the touch panel unit mounted on the mobile phone terminalis made ineffective in the case that approaching of the object to themobile phone terminal is detected during the telephone call.

Advantageous Effect

According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the wrongoperation of the mobile phone terminal due to the unconscious touch withthe touch panel during the telephone call without restricting thefunction which is available during the telephone call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of amobile phone terminal according to a first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of themobile phone terminal according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling themobile phone terminal of the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the mobilephone terminal according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of amobile phone terminal according to a second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of themobile phone terminal according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling themobile phone terminal according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the mobilephone terminal according to the second exemplary embodiment.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE

104,304: Touch panel unit

201,401: Telephone call determining means

202,402: Approach detecting means

203,403: Input controlling means

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment according to the present invention will bedescribed with reference to a drawing in the following.

First, an outline of a first exemplary embodiment will be described withreference to a drawing. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing anexample of the minimum configuration of a mobile phone terminalaccording to the first exemplary embodiment. The mobile phone terminalshown in FIG. 1 includes a touch panel unit 104, a telephone calldetermining means 201, an approach detecting means 202 and an inputcontrolling means 203.

The touch panel unit 104 is an input means for inputting information.

The telephone call determining means 201 judges whether the mobile phoneterminal is in a telephone call mode.

In the case that the telephone call determining means 201 judges thatthe mobile phone terminal is in the telephone call mode, the approachdetecting means 202 outputs infrared light and detects approaching of anobject through detecting reflection of the infrared light which theapproach detecting means 202 outputs.

In the case that the approach detecting means 202 detects approaching ofthe object, the input controlling means 203 carries out a control formaking an input which is inputted from the touch panel unit 104ineffective. In other words, even if the mobile phone terminal is in thestate of telephone call, a function of the touch panel unit 104 isavailable under the condition that the approach detecting means 202 doesnot detect approaching of the object.

With the configuration which is shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to avoida wrong operation of the mobile phone terminal due to the unconscioustouch with the touch panel during the telephone call, withoutrestricting the function which is available during the telephone call.User of the mobile phone terminal may want to carry out handling forinputting information during the telephone call. In the case, it isimpossible to carry out the handling for inputting information if thefunction of the touch panel unit 104 is made ineffective uniformlyduring the telephone call. On the other hand, according to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 1, handling of the touch panel unit 104 canbe made ineffective basically during the telephone call, andfurthermore, it is possible to carry out handling for inputtinginformation by use of the touch panel unit 104 if necessary even duringthe telephone call.

Hereinafter, the first exemplary embodiment of the present inventionwill be described with reference to a drawing. FIG. 2 is a block diagramshowing an example of a configuration of the mobile phone terminalaccording to the first exemplary embodiment. A mobile telephone will beexemplified as the mobile phone terminal in the following description.

A mobile telephone 100 shown in FIG. 2 includes an infrared light sensor101, a receiving unit 102, an infrared light communication unit 103, thetouch panel unit 104 and a touch panel controlling unit 105.Furthermore, the mobile telephone 100 includes a central control unit106, an antenna 107, a sending and receiving unit 108, a display unit109, a clocking unit 110, a data storing unit 111 and a battery unit112.

The infrared light sensor 101 outputs infrared light and detectsapproaching of the object through detecting reflection of the outputtedinfrared light. The infrared light sensor 101 is arranged near thereceiving unit 102.

The receiving unit 102 outputs a voice (received voice) during thetelephone call. The infrared light communication unit 103 sends andreceives data stored in the data storing unit 111 by use of infraredlight.

The touch panel unit 104 is an inputting device which displays afunction key such as a determination key and a mark and generates asignal corresponding to a selected key out of the displayed keys, andoutput the signal to the touch panel controlling unit 105 and thecentral control unit 106.

The touch panel controlling unit 105 controls an operation of the touchpanel unit 104 when the touch panel controlling unit 105 receives aninstruction which is for making the function of the touch panel unit 104effective from the central control unit 106.

The central control unit 106 controls each of units of the mobiletelephone 100 on the basis of a program. The central control unit 106controls each of units intensively in reply to the signal which thetouch panel unit 104 outputs on the basis of handling of the key.

The antenna 107 is for carrying out an effective radio transmission ofthe mobile telephone 100. The antenna 107 may be arranged inside themobile telephone 100 and may be an expandable type.

The sending and receiving unit 108 demodulates a signal which isreceived from a radio base station via the antenna 107 and outputs thedemodulated signal to the central control unit 106. Moreover, thesending and receiving unit 108 modulates a signal which the centralcontrol unit 106 outputs and converts the modulated signal to a signalof a radio frequency band and then, sends the converted signal to theradio base station via the antenna 107.

The display unit 109 displays image data, telephone number, text data orthe like, which the data storing unit 111 stores, in reply to a displayinstruction outputted from the central control unit 106.

The data storing unit 111 stores telephone number, name or title of thetelephone call destination, text data such as character, image data,measured data or the like. The clocking unit 110 has a function ofclocking. The battery unit 112 is a secondary battery which can becharged and can supply electric power to the mobile telephone 100.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of aconfiguration of the mobile telephone according to the first exemplaryembodiment. The mobile telephone 100 shown in FIG. 3 includes the touchpanel unit 104, the telephone call determining means 201, the approachdetecting means 202, the input controlling means 203, a power-savingcontrolling means 204 and a display controlling means 205. Further, acomponent in FIG. 3 which is the same as a component in FIG. 1 has thesame code in FIG. 3 as the component in FIG. 1 has.

The telephone call determining means 201 and the display controllingunit 205 can be realized as a program for making the central controlunit 106 carry out a function which will be described later. While adescription like “The telephone call determining means 201 carries out”will be used in the following, the central control unit 106 carries outthe processing actually on the basis of a program.

The input controlling means 203 and the power-saving controlling means204 can be realize as a program for making the touch panel controllingunit 105 carry out a function which will be described later. While adescription like “The input controlling means 203 carries out” will beused in the following, the touch panel controlling unit 105 carries outthe processing actually on the basis of a program.

The telephone call determining means 201 judges existence of thetelephone call mode. That is, the telephone call determining means 201judges whether the mobile telephone 100 is in the telephone call mode(during telephone call). The telephone call determining means 201 isrealized, for example, by executing of the central control unit 106.

The approach detecting means 202 detects approaching of the object. Theapproach detecting means 202 outputs infrared light and detectsapproaching of the object through detecting reflection of the outputtedinfrared light. The approach detecting means 202 is realized, forexample, by use of the infrared light sensor 101.

The input controlling means 203 carries out the control to make theinput from the touch panel unit 104 ineffective when the approachdetecting means 202 have detected approaching of the object.Specifically, the input controlling means 203 carries out, for example,the control to make the input signal which the touch panel unit 104generates ineffective.

On the other hand, in the case that the approach detecting means 202does not detect approaching of any object, the input controlling means203 carries out a control to make the input from the touch panel unit104 effective. Specifically, the input controlling means 203 carriesout, for example, the control to make the input signal which the touchpanel unit 104 generates effective. The input controlling means 203 isrealized, for example, by use of the touch panel controlling unit 105.

The power-saving controlling means 204 controls supply of electric powerto the touch panel unit 104 to carry out a power-saving control. On thebasis of the judgment whether the approach detecting means 202 detectsapproaching of object, the power-saving controlling means 204 carriesout a control to increase or to decrease electric power supplied to thetouch panel unit 104 to a predetermined value.

For example, in the case that the approach detecting means 202 detectsapproaching of the object, the power-saving controlling means 204carries out, for example, a control to decrease electric power suppliedto the touch panel unit 104 to the predetermined value as thepower-saving control.

On the other hand, in the case that the approach detecting means 202does not detect approaching of the object, the power-saving controllingmeans 204 stops the power-saving control and carries out, for example, acontrol to increase electric power supplied to the touch panel unit 104to the predetermined value. The power-saving control means 204 isrealized by use of the touch panel controlling unit 105.

The display controlling means 205 controls supply of electric power tothe display unit 109 and carries out a display control. On the basis ofthe judgment whether the approach detecting means 202 detectsapproaching of the object, the display controlling unit 205 carries outa control to increase or to decrease electric power which is supplied tothe display unit 109 to a predetermined value.

For example, in the case that the approach detecting means 202 detectsapproaching of the object, the display controlling means 205 carries outa control to decrease electric power which is supplied to the displayunit 109 to the predetermined value as the power-saving control. Forexample, it may be preferable that the display controlling means 205carries out a control not to supply electric power to the display unit109.

Moreover, in the case that the approach detecting means 202 does notdetect approaching of the object, the display controlling unit 205carries out a control to release the power-saving control and toincrease electric power which is supplied to the display unit 109 to thepredetermined value. The display controlling unit 205 is realized byexecuting of the central control unit 106.

Next, an operation of the first exemplary embodiment will be describedwith reference to a drawing. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operationof the mobile phone terminal according to the first exemplaryembodiment.

When user wants to start the telephone call, with the control of thecentral control unit 106, the sending and receiving unit 108 receives asignal from the radio base station via the antenna 107 and demodulatesthe received signal. Moreover, the sending and receiving unit 108modulates a signal which the central control unit 106 outputs, and sendsthe modulated signal to the radio base station via the antenna 107 andstarts the telephone call. The central control unit 106 sets the mobiletelephone 100 to the telephone call mode (Step S201).

Next, the central control unit 106 judges existence of the telephonecall mode (Step S202). In the case that the telephone call mode isjudged to be continuing (Y), the processing shifts to Step S203. On theother hand, in the case that the telephone call mode is judged to bereleased (N), that is, in the case that the mobile telephone is judgednot to be in the telephone call mode, the mobile telephone shifts to astandby mode (Step S210) and waits for starting of a telephone call. Theprocessing shifts to Step S201 when the telephone call starts.

In Step S203, the infrared light sensor 101 detects approaching of theobject. Since the infrared light sensor 101 is arranged near thereceiving unit 102, the infrared light sensor 101 can detect approachingof the object to the receiving unit 102. The infrared light sensor 101outputs infrared light and detects approaching of the object throughdetecting reflection of the outputted infrared light.

In the case that the infrared light sensor 101 detects approaching ofthe object to the receiving unit 102 (Y) in Step S203, the touch panelcontrolling unit 105 carries out the control to make the input which isinputted from the touch panel unit 104 ineffective. For example, thetouch panel controlling unit 105 prohibits automatically the touch panelunit 104 from inputting information through carrying out the control tomake the input signal which the touch panel unit 104 generatesineffective.

Next, the touch panel controlling unit 105 carries out the power-savingcontrol of the touch panel unit 104 (Step S205). As the power-savingcontrol, the touch panel controlling unit 105 carries out the control todecrease electric power supplied to the touch panel unit 104 to thepredetermined value.

The central control unit 106 turns off a display on the display unit 109(Step S206), and makes the processing shift to Step S203. In Step S206,the central control unit 106 carries out the control, for example, tostop supplying of electric power to the display unit 109 and to make thedisplay off.

In the case that approaching of the object to the receiving unit 102 isdetected in Step S203, the processing of steps S204, S205 and S206 arecarried out repeatedly, and respective states are maintained.

On the other hand, in the case that approaching of the object to thereceiving unit 102 is not detected (N), the central control unit 106turns on the display on the display unit 109 (Step S207). For example,the central control unit 106 carries out a control to start supplying ofelectric power to the display unit 109 and to make the display ON.

The touch panel controlling unit 105 stops the power-saving control ofthe touch panel unit 104 (Step S208). For example, the touch panelcontrolling unit 105 carries out the control to increase an amount ofelectric power supply to the touch panel unit 104.

The touch panel controlling unit 105 carries out the control so as tostart to handle the touch panel unit 104 for inputting information (StepS209). For example, the touch panel controlling unit 105 carries out thecontrol to make the signal generated by the touch panel unit 104effective.

According to the first exemplary embodiment, as described above, sincethe infrared light sensor unit detects approaching of the object insynchronization with starting of the telephone call, it is possible todetect easily that user has a posture to start the telephone call andconsequently, it is possible to prevent the wrong operation of themobile phone terminal due to the unconscious touch with the touch panelunit.

Moreover, according to the first exemplary embodiment, it is possible toobtain an effect which the invention disclosed in patent document 1 doesnot have. That is, since the control to save electric power of the touchpanel unit and the control to turns off the display of the display unitare carried out, it is possible to suppress consumption of electricpower.

According to the first exemplary embodiment, since the infrared lightsensor unit is used for checking existence of the object nearby by useof infrared light, it is possible to detect approaching of the objecteven when ear of user or the like does not touch with the mobile phoneterminal. Therefore, the first exemplary embodiment has an effect thatit is possible to extend an effective range in which the telephone callmode is detected.

Further, it may be preferable that an infrared light communication unitused normally in the usual terminal for communication is applied to theinfrared light sensor. If the infrared light communication unit has aconfiguration in which the infrared light communication unit is unifiedas a component with an extended function to detect approaching of theobject, it is possible to realize the infrared light communication uniteasily with no additional component.

It is possible to make the detection less influenced from the outsidethrough employing the infrared light sensor as the sensor which carriesout detection of approaching of the object.

Further, while it is exemplified that the control to decrease electricpower supplied to the touch panel unit 104 and the display unit 109 tothe predetermined value is carried out when the approach detecting means202 detects approaching of the object according to the first exemplaryembodiment mentioned above, it may be preferable to carry out a controlto decrease an amount of electric power supply to other function whichis not used for the telephone call.

Moreover, it may be preferable that the infrared light sensor 101detects approaching of the object during the telephone call not alwaysbut several times a second. Furthermore, it is sufficient for theinfrared light sensor 101 to have sensitivity that a distance, withinwhich approaching of the object can be detected, is about severalcentimeters. Then, it may be preferable that the infrared light sensor101 has a configuration in which high level output is not required.

Further, in the first exemplary embodiment mentioned above, the mobilephone terminal, which has a characteristic configuration as thefollowing (1) to (6), is described.

(1) The mobile phone terminal characterized by comprising the touchpanel unit for inputting information (for example, the touch panel unitis realized through the touch panel unit 104), the telephone calldetermining means which judges whether the mobile phone terminal is inthe telephone call mode(for example, the telephone call determiningmeans is realized through the telephone call determining means 201, i.e.the central control unit 106), the approach detecting means whichoutputs infrared light and detects reflection of the outputted infraredlight to detect approaching of the object (for example, the approachdetecting means is realized through the approach detecting means 202,i.e. the infrared light sensor 101), and the input controlling means(for example, the input control means is realized through the inputcontrolling means 203, i.e. the touch panel controlling unit 105) whichcarries out the control to make the inputted information from the touchpanel unit ineffective in the case that the approach detecting meansjudges that the mobile phone terminal is in the telephone call mode.

(2) The mobile phone terminal including the power-saving controllingmeans (for example, the power-saving controlling means is realizedthrough the power-saving controlling means 204, i.e. the touch panelcontrolling unit 105) which carries out the control to decrease or toincrease electric power supplied to the touch panel unit to thepredetermined value on the basis of the judgment whether the approachdetecting means detects approaching of the object. The mobile phoneterminal which has the configuration mentioned above can reduce thepower consumption thereof and prevent the temperature rise thereof.

(3) According to the mobile phone terminal including the power-savingcontrolling means, the power-saving controlling means carries out thecontrol to decrease electric power supplied to the touch panel unit tothe predetermined value in the case that the approach detecting meansdetects approaching of the object. The mobile phone terminal which hasthe configuration mentioned above can reduce the power consumptionthereof and prevent the temperature rise thereof.

(4) The mobile phone terminal including the display unit (for example,the display unit is realized through the display unit 109) whichdisplays information, and the display controlling means (for example,the display controlling means is realized through the displaycontrolling means 205, i.e. the central control unit 106) which carriesout the control to decrease or to increase electric power supplied tothe display unit to the predetermined value on the basis of the judgmentwhether the approach detecting means detects approaching of the object.The mobile phone terminal which has the configuration mentioned abovecan reduce furthermore the power consumption thereof and prevent thetemperature rise thereof.

(5) According to the mobile phone terminal including the displaycontrolling means, the display controlling means carries out the controlto decrease electric power supplied to the display unit to thepredetermined value in the case that the approach detecting meansdetects approaching of the object. The mobile phone terminal which hasthe configuration mentioned above can reduce the power consumptionthereof furthermore and prevent the temperature rise thereof.

(6) According to the mobile phone terminal including the approachdetecting means, the approach detecting means is arranged near thereceiving unit thereof. The mobile phone terminal which has theconfiguration mentioned above can detect that a part of user's bodyapproaches thereto during the telephone call.

A mobile phone terminal will be described in the following according toa second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

First, an outline of the mobile phone terminal will be describedaccording to the second exemplary embodiment. According to the secondexemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the mobile phone terminalincludes a touch panel unit 304, a telephone call determining means(telephone call determining unit) 401, an approach detecting means(approach detecting unit) 402 and an input controlling means (inputcontrolling unit) 403.

The touch panel unit 304 is an input means for inputting information.The telephone call determining means 401 judges whether the mobile phoneterminal is in the telephone call mode. The approach detecting means 402outputs a predetermined wave and detects receiving of the predeterminedwave as approaching of the object. There are plural kinds of waves suchas infrared light, supersonic or the like. The wave applied herein isselected suitably out of the plural kinds of waves which reflect from anobject (mainly, human body). Thus, when the object (human body)approaches to the mobile phone terminal, the predetermined waveoutputted reflects from the approaching object to return to the mobilephone terminal. It is possible to detect approaching of the objectthrough detecting the returned wave.

In the case that the telephone call determining means 401 judges thatthe mobile phone terminal is in the telephone call mode and the approachdetecting means 202 detects approaching of the object, the inputcontrolling means 403 carries out a control to make inputted informationfrom the touch panel part 304 ineffective. In other words, even if themobile phone terminal is in the telephone call mode, a function of thetouch panel unit 304 is effective under the condition that the approachdetecting means 402 does not detect approaching of the object.

The mobile phone terminal which has the aforementioned configurationcarries out an operation described in the following. That is, thetelephone call determining means 401 judges whether the mobile phoneterminal is in the telephone call mode. When the approach detectingmeans 402 outputs infrared light and detects reflection of the outputtedinfrared light, the approach detecting means 402 detects approaching ofthe object on the basis of detecting the reflection. In the case thatthe telephone call determining means 401 judges that the mobile phoneterminal is in the telephone call mode and the approach detecting means402 detects approaching of the object, the input controlling means 403carries out the control to make the inputted information from the touchpanel part 304 ineffective.

Since the mobile phone terminal operates as mentioned above according tothe configuration shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to avoid the wrongoperation of the mobile phone terminal due to the unconscious touch withthe touch panel during the telephone call, without restricting thefunction which is available during the telephone call.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of themobile phone terminal according to the second exemplary embodiment. Amobile telephone is applied to the mobile phone terminal according tothe second exemplary embodiment. According to the second exemplaryembodiment, the mobile telephone 300 includes a wave detecting sensor301, a receiving unit 302, an infrared light communication unit 303, thetouch panel unit 304, a touch panel controlling unit 305 and a centralcontrol unit 306. Furthermore, the mobile telephone 300 includes anantenna 307, a sending and receiving unit 308, a display unit 309, aclocking unit 310, a data storing unit 311 and a battery unit 312.

The wave detecting sensor 301 outputs a predetermined wave (wave such asinfrared light, supersonic or the like) and detects receiving of thewave as approaching of the object. An infrared light sensor, asupersonic sensor or the like can be exemplified as the wave detectingsensor 301.

The wave detecting sensor 301 is arranged near the receiving unit 302.Further, according to the second exemplary embodiment, it is sufficientto detect an object which approaches to the mobile telephone 300, forexample, within several centimeters apart. For this reason, the wavedetecting sensor 301 dose not need to output a strong wave.

The receiving unit 302 has a configuration in which a voice (receivingvoice) received during the telephone call is outputted.

The infrared light communication unit 303 has a configuration forconverting an electric signal corresponding to data stored in the datastoring unit 311 into an infrared light signal and sending the infraredlight signal. Furthermore, the infrared light communication unit 303 hasa configuration for receiving the sending infrared light signal andconverting the received infrared light signal into an electric signal.

The touch panel unit 304 is an apparatus for inputting information. Forexample, the touch panel unit 304 has a configuration for displaying afunction key such as a determination key and a mark key. Moreover, thetouch panel unit 304 has a configuration for generating a signal on thebasis of a state of touch (that is, key handling) with a displayed partof the key and outputting the generated signal to the touch panelcontrolling unit 305 and the central control unit 306.

The touch panel controlling unit 305 controls the touch panel unit 304in the case that the touch panel controlling unit 305 receives aninstruction which is for making the function of the touch panel unit 304effective from the central control unit 306.

The central control unit 306 has a configuration for controlling theoperation of the mobile telephone 300 on the basis of the signal whichthe touch panel unit 304 generates according to for example user'shandling of the touch panel unit 304 (key operation) and a program givenin advance.

The antenna 307 is for carrying out radio communication of the mobiletelephone 300. It may be preferable that the antenna 307 is accommodatedin a case (not shown in the figure) of the mobile telephone 300 and itmay be preferable that the antenna 307 is projected to the outside ofthe case. Moreover, it may be preferable that the antenna 307 is anexpandable stick antenna and is made of a metal plate. In other word,shape or the like of the antenna 307 has no restriction in particular.

The sending and receiving unit 308 has a configuration for demodulatinga signal received by the antenna 307 and outputting the demodulatedsignal to the central control unit 306. Furthermore, the sending andreceiving unit 308 has a configuration for modulating a signal receivedfrom the central control unit 306 and outputting the modulated signal tothe antenna 307. The modulated signal outputted to the antenna 307 issent into the air from the antenna 307.

The display unit 309 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display.The display unit 309 displays data of the data storing unit 311 inaccordance with a display instruction outputted from the central controlunit 306.

The data storing unit 311 has a configuration for storing telephonenumber, name (title) of telephone call destination, text data such ascharacter, image data, measured data or the like. The clocking unit 310has a configuration for measuring time. The battery unit 312 is asecondary battery which can be charged. Electric power of the batteryunit 312 is supplied to a part which requires electric power in themobile telephone 300 such as the central control unit 306 or the like.

The mobile telephone 300 of the second exemplary embodiment has aconfiguration shown in FIG. 7 for carrying out a function described inthe following on the basis of the aforementioned configuration. That is,the mobile telephone 300 includes the telephone call determining means401, the approach detecting means 402, the input controlling means 403,a power-saving controlling means (power-saving controlling unit) 404 anda display controlling means (display controlling unit) 405.

The telephone call determining means 401 judges whether the mobiletelephone 300 is in the telephone call mode (during telephone call). Thetelephone call determining means 401 is realized by executing of thecentral control unit 306 which is controlled by a program for realizingthe above-mentioned judging procedure.

The approach detecting means 402 includes the wave detecting sensor 301.The approach detecting means 402 outputs a predetermined wave (forexample, infrared light or supersonic) and detects receiving of thepredetermined wave as approaching of the object by use of the wavedetecting sensor 301.

In the case that the telephone call determining means 401 judges thatthe mobile phone terminal is in the telephone call mode and the approachdetecting means 402 detects approaching of the object, the inputcontrolling means 403 carries out the control to make inputtedinformation from the touch panel part 404 ineffective. Specifically, theinput controlling means 403 carries out the control to make the signalwhich the touch panel part 304 generates ineffective. Moreover, even ifthe telephone call determining means 401 judges that the mobile phoneterminal is in the telephone call mode, the input controlling unit 403carries out a control to make the inputted information from the touchpanel unit 304 effective under the condition that the approach detectingmeans 402 does not detect approaching of the object. Specifically, theinput controlling means 403 carries out the control, for example, tomake the signal which the touch panel unit 304 generates effective. Theinput controlling means 403 mentioned above is realized by executing ofthe touch panel controlling unit 305 which is controlled by a programfor carrying out the above-mentioned control procedure.

On the basis of the judgment whether the approach detecting means 402detects approaching of the object, the power-saving controlling means404 carries out a control to increase or to decrease an amount ofelectric power supplied to the touch panel unit 304. For example, in thecase that the approach detecting means 402 detects approaching of theobject, the power-saving controlling means 404 carries out a control todecrease the amount of electric power supplied to the touch panel unit304 to a predetermined value for the power-saving control, as thepower-saving control. On the other hand, in the case that the approachdetecting means 402 does not detect approaching of the object, thepower-saving controlling means 404 carries out a control to release thepower-saving control and then, to increase (restore) the amount ofelectric power supplied to the touch panel unit 304 to the predeterminedvalue. The power-saving controlling means 404 mentioned above isrealized by executing of the touch panel controlling unit 305 which iscontrolled by a program for carrying out the above-mentioned controlprocedure.

On the basis of the judgment whether the approach detecting means 402detects approaching of the object, the display controlling means 405carries out a control to increase or to decrease the amount of electricpower supplied to the display unit 309. For example, in the case thatthe approach detecting means 402 detects approaching of the object, thedisplay controlling means 405 carries out a control to decrease theamount of electric power supplied to the display unit 309 to apredetermined value for the power-saving control, as the power-savingcontrol. For example, it may be preferable that as the power-savingcontrol, the display controlling means 405 carries out a control to stopsupplying of electric power to the display unit 309. On the other hand,in the case that the approach detecting means 402 does not detectapproaching of the object, the display controlling means 405 carries outa control to release the power-saving control and then, to increase(restore) the amount of electric power supplied to the display unit 309to the predetermined value. The display controlling means 405 mentionedabove is realized by executing of the central control unit 306 which iscontrolled by a program for carrying out the above-mentioned controlprocedure.

Next, an example of an operation of the mobile telephone 300 will bedescribed with reference to a flowchart in FIG. 8 according to thesecond exemplary embodiment.

In the case that the central control unit 306 detects that user handlesthe mobile telephone 300 in order to set up a telephone call, thecentral control unit 306 sets an operation mode of the mobile telephone300 to the telephone call mode (Step S501).

Next, the central control unit 306 judges whether the telephone callmode continues (Step S502). In the case that it is judged that thetelephone call mode continues, the procedure shifts to Step S503. In thecase that it is judged that the telephone call is completed, that is, inthe case that it is judged that the mobile telephone 300 is not in thetelephone call mode, the central control unit 306 enters into thestandby mode and waits for starting of a next telephone call (StepS510).

In Step S503, the central control unit 306 judges whether the approachdetecting means 402 detects approaching of the object. That is, thecentral control unit 306 judges whether the wave detecting sensor 301detects receiving of the wave. According to the second exemplaryembodiment, the wave detecting sensor 301 is arranged near the receivingunit 302. For this reason, it is judged in Step S503 whether the objectapproaches to the receiving unit 302.

In the case that the central control unit 306 judges that the objectapproaches to the receiving unit 302 in Step S503, the input controllingmeans 403, that is, the touch panel controlling unit 305 carries out thecontrol to make information inputted from the touch panel unit 304ineffective in Step S504. The touch panel controlling unit 305 carriesout, for example, the control to make the signal which the touch panelunit 304 generates ineffective.

Next, the power-saving controlling means 404, that is, the touch panelcontrolling unit 305 carries out the power-saving control of the touchpanel unit 304 (Step S505). As the power-saving control, the touch panelcontrolling unit 305 carries out, for example, the control to decreasesthe amount of electric power supplied to the touch panel unit 304 to thepredetermined value for the power-saving control.

Afterward, the display controlling means 405, that is, the centralcontrol unit 306 decreases the amount of electric power supplied to thedisplay unit 309 to the predetermined value for the power-saving controlin Step S506. For example, the display controlling means 405 (centralcontrol unit 306) stops supplying electric power to the display unit309. As a result, display on the display unit 309 is turned off.Afterward, steps after above-mentioned Step S503 are repeated.

On the other hand, in the case that it is judged that any object whichapproaches to the receiving unit 302 is not detected in Step S503mentioned above, the display controlling means 405, that is, the centralcontrol unit 306 controls the amount of electric power supplied to thedisplay unit 309 to the predetermined value in Step S507 in order tochange display on the display unit 309 into ON state.

Next, in the case that the power-saving controlling means 404, that is,the touch panel controlling unit 305 carries out the power-saving of thetouch panel unit 304, the power-saving controlling means 404 (touchpanel controlling unit 305) releases the power-saving control of thetouch panel unit 304 and carries out, for example, the control toincrease (restore) the amount of electric power supplied to the touchpanel unit 304 in Step S508.

Moreover, the input controlling means 403 (touch panel controlling unit305) carries out the control to make the signal which the touch panelunit 304 generates effective, that is, the control to make the inputwhich is inputted to the touch panel unit 304 effective in Step S509.Afterward, steps after above-mentioned Step S502 are repeated.

As described above, according to the second exemplary embodiment, thetelephone call determining means 401 which judges whether the mobiletelephone is in the telephone call mode, and the approach detectingmeans 402 which detects approaching of the object by use of the wavedetection sensor 301 are provided. As a result, it is possible to detectcorrectly not only existence of the telephone call and not onlyexistence of approach of the object to the mobile telephone 300(receiving unit 302) but also being approaching of the object during thetelephone call.

According to the second exemplary embodiment, the followingconfiguration is adopted. That is, the input controlling unit 403 makesthe information inputted from the touch panel unit 304 ineffective whenthe telephone call detecting means 401 detects that the mobile telephone300 is in the telephone call mode and the approach detecting means 402detects approaching of the object. As a result, it is possible to avoidthe wrong operation of the mobile telephone 300 due to the unconscioustouch with the touch panel. Moreover, according to the second exemplaryembodiment, approaching of the object is detected by use of the wavedetection sensor 301 and not by use of a camera which is arranged insidethe mobile telephone, as mentioned above. For this reason, it ispossible to detect approaching of the object without limiting a functionwhich is available during the telephone call, such as a photographyfunction.

Moreover, according to the second exemplary embodiment, the power-savingcontrol means 404 is provided. That is, the power-saving control means404 carries out the power-saving control to decrease the amount ofelectric power supplied to the touch panel unit 304 in the case that theapproach detecting means 402 detects approaching of the object. In thecase that the approach detecting means 402 detects approaching of theobject, that is, in the case that the approach detecting means 402detects approaching of the object to the receiving unit 302, it isassumed that the touch panel unit 304 is in an unavailable state due toan obstacle which is the approaching object. There is no problem even ifthe amount of electric power supplied to the touch panel unit 304 isdecreased in the case. In other words, it is wasteful that electricpower is supplied to the touch panel unit 304 though the touch panelunit 304 is in the unavailable state. Therefore, it is possible to avoidwaste and to reduce power consumption through decreasing electric powersupplied to the touch panel unit 304 in the case that the approachdetecting means 402 detects approaching of the object.

Similarly, it is possible to avoid waste and to reduce power consumptionthrough decreasing electric power supplied to the display unit 309 byuse of the display controlling means 405 in the case that the approachdetecting means 402 detects approaching of the object.

Furthermore, it is possible to reduce an amount of heat generated in thetouch panel unit 304 and the display unit 309, because electric powersupplied to the touch panel unit 304 and the display unit 309 decreaseduring the telephone call when the approach detecting means 302 detectsapproaching the object. As a result, it is possible to solve the problemthat user of the mobile telephone feels uncomfortable due to thetemperature rise of the mobile telephone 300 during the telephone call.

According to the second exemplary embodiment, the followingconfiguration is provided. That is, handling of the touch panel unit 304is made ineffective when the approach detecting means 402 detectsapproaching of the object during the telephone call, as mentioned above.In other words, in the case that the approach detecting means 402 doesnot detect approaching of the object even during the telephone call,handling of the touch panel unit 304 is effective. That is, for example,user of the mobile telephone may want to handle the touch panel unit 304for inputting information in some cases, when it is possible to handlethe touch panel unit 304 in a so-called on-hook telephone call mode inwhich it is possible to telephone without making ear approach to thereceiving unit 302. In the case, if handling of the touch panel unit 304is made ineffective uniformly during the telephone call, there is aprospect that user feels dissatisfied since it is impossible to handlethe touch panel unit 304 for inputting information. In contrast,according to the configuration of the second exemplary embodiment, thefollowing configuration is provided. That is, in the case that theapproach detecting means 402 does not detect approaching of the object,that is, in the case that it is assumed that user can handle the touchpanel unit 304, it is possible to handle the touch panel unit 304 forinputting information. As a result, it is possible to prevent user fromfeeling the above-mentioned dissatisfaction.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the first and thesecond exemplary embodiments, and can adopt the various embodiments. Forexample, according to the first and the second embodiments, in the casethat the approach detecting means 202 and 402 detect approaching of theobject, the power-saving control for decreasing electric power, which issupplied to the touch panel units 104 and 304 and the display units 109and 309, is carried out. In contrast, it may be preferable that thepower-saving control to decrease an amount of electric power supply of acomponent, which has no necessity to the telephone call, is carried outduring the telephone call.

Furthermore, it may be preferable that the approach detecting means 202and 402 detect approaching of the object not continuously but at apredetermined interval of time like, for example, several times asecond.

Moreover, according to the first and the second exemplary embodiments,while the power-saving controlling means 204 and 404 and the displaycontrolling means 205 and 405 are provided, the power-saving controlmeans 204 and 404 and the display controlling means 205 and 405 shouldbe provided respectively according to the necessity. Then, it may bepreferable to omit them, if they are unnecessary.

Moreover, it may be preferable that the approach detecting means 402 hasa configuration in which approaching of the object is detected only ifthe call determining means 401 judges that the mobile telephone is inthe telephone call mode. In this case, whenever the approach detectingmeans 402 detects approaching of the object, the mobile telephone isalways in the telephone call mode. As a result, the input controllingmeans 403 can detect that the telephone call determining means 401judges that the mobile telephone is in the telephone call mode, and candetect that the approach detecting means 402 detects approaching of theobject, without direct receiving of judgment result of the telephonecall determining means 401 and on the basis of only detection result ofthe approach detecting means 402.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invention is not limitedto these embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skillin the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention asdefined by the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be applied effectively to a mobile telephonewhich is equipped with a touch panel.

1. A mobile phone, comprising: a touch panel; a sensor for outputtinginfrared light and receiving a reflection of the outputted infraredlight; and a controller configured to make a function of the touch paneleffective in response to the sensor receiving no reflection of theoutputted infrared light in case that the function of the touch panel isineffective during a telephone call.
 2. The mobile phone according toclaim 1, wherein the controller makes the function of the touch panelineffective when the sensor receives the reflection of the outputtedinfrared light.
 3. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein thecontroller carries out control to increase or decrease electric powersupplied to the touch panel in case whether the sensor receives thereflection of the outputted infrared light or not.
 4. The mobile phoneaccording to claim 3, wherein the controller carries out control todecrease an amount of electric power supplied to the touch panel to apredetermined value in case that the sensor receives the reflection ofthe outputted infrared light.
 5. The mobile phone according to claim 1,further comprising: a display that displays information, wherein thecontroller carries out control to increase or decrease an amount ofelectric power supplied to the display in case whether the sensorreceives the reflection of the outputted infrared light or not.
 6. Themobile phone according to claim 5, wherein the controller carries outcontrol to decrease the amount of electric power to a predeterminedvalue in case that the sensor receives the reflection of the outputtedinfrared light.
 7. A control method of a mobile phone, comprising:outputting and receiving infrared light by a sensor of the mobile phone,and making a function of a touch panel of the mobile phone effective inresponse to the sensor receiving no reflection of the outputted infraredlight in case that the function of the touch panel is ineffective duringa telephone call.
 8. The control method of the mobile phone according toclaim 7, further comprising: making the function of the touch panelineffective when the sensor receives the reflection of the outputtedinfrared light.
 9. The control method of the mobile phone according toclaim 7, further comprising: carrying out control to increase ordecrease electric power supplied to the touch panel in case whether thesensor receives the reflection of the outputted infrared light or not.10. The control method of the mobile phone according to claim 9, whereinan amount of electric power supplied to the touch panel is decreased bya predetermined value in case that the sensor receives the reflection ofthe outputted infrared light.
 11. The control method of the mobile phoneaccording to claim 7, further comprising: carrying out control toincrease or decrease an amount of electric power supplied to a displayof the mobile phone in case whether the sensor receives the reflectionof the outputted infrared light or not.
 12. The control method of themobile phone according to claim 11, wherein an amount of electric powersupplied to the display is decreased by a predetermined value in casethat the sensor receives the reflection of the outputted infrared light.